James Craig has been at the University of California, Irvine since 1972, working as head resident for the Mesa Court housing complex. He also served as coordinator of residential life and as associate and acting director of housing and food services before becoming director of UCI housing. Craig has a master's degree in counseling psychology. In 1986, he was given the UCI Alumni Assn.'s Lauds and Laurels Distinguished Staff Award and was named Assistance Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in 1987. Although he received a new title, he still retained his housing-director position while assuming supervision of the Career Planning and Placement Center and the Counseling Center.